Did this a couple weeks ago:  Tree fell from storm damage across my road.  I used my tractor with grapple to cut it up and move it to my firewood processing area.

One cut made; you can just barely see the branch on the ground to the right.  I'm *probably* gonna get shit from @Foxtrot08 'cause I left my Stihl MS-362CM on the ground, something I lectured him about once or twice.  I normally don't - because I don't want to run over a +$800 chainsaw - but in this case, I stopped just long enough to take the pic, then get back to sawing.



Closeup of the first saw cut.  A couple things to note:  Observe how the lower "jaw" of the grapple is set to catch the lower limb.  Also note how the upper jaw is positioned fully open to protect me, the tractor and me if the main trunk decides to get frisky.



A view of the 2nd cut.  Note how the lower limb fell right into the grapple, ready to be moved.  During this entire operation, I don't think I touched a piece of wood.  



Now cutting the main trunk.  Again, notice how the grapple is protecting me, the tractor and me from potential whiplash.  The upper (right) part of the tree was hung on the upper branches of the trees across the road and hence, may have had potentially dangerous stored energy.  Also note how the previous log was set to provide toe/foot protection.



And it all fell down very slowly and gracefully; the dangerous part is now over.



Now it's a matter of picking it up and sawing it to movable lengths (i.e. 10'-12'):



Another advantage of the grapple:  Sawing wood at waist level: no bending over, no having to rotate +1000 lb logs to finish the cut and no chance of getting the chainsaw into the dirt/gravel.


In this pic, you can see the main trunk of the tree still standing; it broke off about ~20' or so up in the air; it's the dark tree off to the right.  ETA:  You can also see it in the first pic, just to the left of the tractor.



Now, here's the interesting part:  I did all of this two weeks and two days after a Total Knee Replacement on my left knee.  In fact, I had just got my bandage and staples pulled the afternoon before.  The point:  Without the tractor and it's grapple, this would have have been a whole lot harder.

Thanks for looking!

Close up pics of the tree above, if anyone can ID it for me, I'd appreciate it.  I'm calling it Black Cherry; my BIL thinks it's Wild Cherry.













Thanks!

Merlin, that is Black Cherry, probably 50% of the wood I burn is BC, it is the "junk" wood on my property as I prefer to leave the Oaks/Beech/Hickory/Walnut trees.  I've got a few Black Cherry on my field edges that have some large limbs hung up/crossed and fractured.  I'll probably have a tree service drop them for me.  I've cut a few hundred trees, but sometimes it isn't worth the risk.  These are probably 75+ year old trees, so quite a bit of energy.

When do you usually start burning wood in TN?

Yeah Black cherry bark is not smooth enough for wild.

Yea, that's what I think, the leaves look just like the leaves in the BC Wiki page.

I plan to have most of this sawmilled, both for myself and my wood-working neighbor.  The rest I'll cut up, split it and then use it for smoking BBQ wood.

We usually start burning around late Oct. or so.  Typically, we're a "one and done" burners; I start a fire in the morning, get it hot and then let it burn out.  It keeps the house warm during the day, but still letting our bedroom stay cool.  Sometimes its into the 20's and burn through most of the day, but it doesn't happen often.

Thanks,

Yikes, my comment almost went like the "nut coal" guy from GD.  

No scolding from me.  Sometimes you have to position things for a photo shoot.

I haven’t even got to sit on a tractor in weeks. Just had abdominal surgery Thursday.

Always told that was wild cherry my whole life. Makes up a huge portion of the firewood we cut around here.

I just checked my Audubon tree field guide, as it wouldn't be the first time I found out I'd been calling something wrong all these years. It's showing "black cherry" and "wild cherry" as two names for the same tree.

Wiki said the same thing.  Learn something new every day.

Bearing down in the final drive on the old 850E dozer. Had to break out the fire wrench to get it apart. Now to order new bearings and seals.
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Got the 3rd function and grapple working!
Still working on a good hose route and need to fab a better mount.

Chipped a few hrs on Saturday and that made 20 on the chipper so pulled all the covers today and greased everything.

Put new seat and armrests on the dozer this morning. Spent a couple hours pushing up some fallen trees and widening the road to a field.
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New Kubota B2650 arrived Friday. Went with the B2650HSD ROPS with B77 backhoe, 60" MMM, FEL with 60" bucket and Land Pride forks. Coming from the BX23, the loader and backhoe are much nicer, and as a mower I think I'm going to miss the BX, as I suspected would happen.

Here it is on arrival. Driver called me and said he didn't want to bring the trailer up the driveway, which I expected. Walked down and met him by the road. He unloaded right on the road which was a bold choice, given he was on a blind turn. Once I was there, I was able to flag down traffic (of which there was none anyway), but prior to that, a little risky.





Here it is as delivered.

Testing out the backhoe on Saturday at my parents' place. They have a drain along a driveway that hasn't worked in years and in the spring part of the road is a swamp as a result. They thought they had an idea of where the problem was, but it was not where they thought. So at this point we're probably just going to redo almost the whole thing.

Thought the problem was somewhere between here and where the pipe drains out of the ground, but after finding the pipe, cutting a section out (and finding it to be bone dry), then dumping a bucket of water in, we found the pipe was fine from there down.



Looking for the T in the line.



Never did find that T, but we're past that now.

Sweet set up……

Very awesome. I miss my BX so bad I’m thinking about another one, but the smaller B series are a strong contender for a second tractor two.  I will say I used a Kubota zero turn the other day and I think I’m going to sell my 84” finish mower and never consider a belly mower again

NICE

Me and my son on the 3301. We were digging up some stumps to widen the quad trail.

Just don’t show the wife how to drive it! You’ll come home to all kinds of randomness

My favorite little tractor, bx2670-1 with a 60" mower and a front loader. Getting ready to split some firewood.

My wife actually loves mowing with the bx. She doesn't care much about the bigger ones but she can take the loader or mower deck off the bx .

About as much side hill as I’m brave enough for...next time I’ll use the 150’ bull-line instead of the 25’ chain on that log
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Love my chipper on big stuff
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Did a little no-till drilling, now just wait for rain.

I want one so bad, but about 10' wide.

That is a ten foot model I had an six foot but it took forever. I can still plant food plots but not hang up as bad as a twelve or fourteen foot model. I like the variable till adjustment on the Hayvan over coulters.

That but I’m fine with 6-8’

Grinding the last pine stump in my front yard. Now it’s just an acre of hickory and oak.

150lbs of seed goes down today.

No pics, but started working on my carry all that was given to me.  I had to take the angle grinder and cut out the old bolts that were frozen on it.  The wood was gone years ago.

What stump grinder is that?

My neighbors home roll with Woods guts.

He wanted the woods one but built this for about 1/3 of the price.

I did too until one year we planted 150 acres then somebody commented how well the liked the Tye and it went bye bye I'll admit there's times I miss the three point smaller unit but not very often. If I went small again I think I'd look really hard at the plot master.

First outdoor ish thing I’ve been able to do since July.  Being sick / having surgery / surgery recovery.

Just dropped a dead ash and logged it up. Didn’t get any of the big toys out.

The dead ash trees further down the hillside I’ll either get the 416C or zts50 out to drag up and cut up.

How is Ash firewood wise?  I cut down 6 or so dead ones in a cluster last year, dead so long the bark had all fallen off and it was almost bone white.  Seemed to cut hard with my saw, even with a new chain.  Stuff just wouldn't split, either.

ETA:  I had the same thing happen you did, every branch smaller than about 2" shattered and make a huge mess.

It’s most of what I burn.  It burns well.  Standing dead like that is already super dry and seasoned.

I’ve probably cut down 200 dead ash trees since I moved back home 11 years ago.  Maybe more.

Good to know, my property doesn't have many, a few big ones that were already on the ground when I bought the land and home to mushrooms and salamanders-too far gone.

I see many standing dead ash/elm along the highways here that have poison ivy growing all the way up, turning bright red right now.

Moved some dirt to fill in around the new building.  Used dads Kubota RTV to haul most of it.  Worked well!

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Looks good.  I'm still getting the hang of grading with my loader, I probably should just get a back blade.

They pulling corn down there yet?

Thanks!

They have been for a week or so.  They started on the corn field across the road and the bean field next to us yesterday.

I always feel so "exposed" once they pull the tall corn at our land.  Nice to always have the view change throughout the year, though.

Same here.  Although I'm eagerly awaiting them all to come down so I can put my thermal to work on coyotes

Im new to the tractor world and want to learn.  Ive been looking around on what i need and i was curious if you guys could help educate me.  I am looking at a mid 1970s John Deere 1530 front end loader for my 5 acres with about 2000 hours on it for around $4500.  I understand this isnt a ton of info to toss out, but what are some other alternative brands and a good price range for a first tractor for clearing brush and old fallen trees?  Currently working some overtime to save up some cash.  Im thinking $5000-7500 would be a decent amount i will need.

What are your thoughts please?

I’d probably start a new thread about your tractor hunt.

That being said, the 1530 is a 3 cylinder Deere made in Germany.  55hp.  $4500 seems cheap. 2000 hours isn’t bad for the money.  Probably only 2 wheel drive.  So you’ll have to see if the rear tires are loaded.  If not load them and use a weight box or counter weight of some sort.

Id love to find that machine for $4500

Well technically hes asking $4900 for it.  It looks like its got a small bit if rust on it, but what tractor isnt.  Im going to keep an eye on it and try and get it in a couple months if its still there

Used it to spread out 40 yards of fill dirt to level off an area next to the garage for additional parking, and to install railroad ties on the perimeter. The limestone will be delivered tomorrow.

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I'm partial to Deere and the 750 and 1050 tractors, because, well, that's what I have.  

That 1530 is a nice tractor size, but I really prefer 4 WD.  You can use Tractorhouse to narrow down what you require HP/Price wise and location and what not.  Kubota makes a nice rig, but I like Deere, and that is what is close dealer wise for me.

Get about 5-10 HP more than you think you'll need, 4WD, a loader, and diesel.

Finally got around to eating some trees with the new chipper.  That, and the grapple make short work of job.